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NALA Lands $50 Million Backing for Cross-Border Payments Expansion
NALA has secured a $50 million financing facility from LIQUIDITY and MUFG-backed Mars Growth Capital, giving the Tanzanian-founded fintech access to additional capital as it expands its international payments network. The funding comes as businesses and consumers increasingly look for faster and more efficient ways to move money across borders. The financing facility will support
Breaking News Today – Monday 1 June 2026
African Start-up News Headlines: Business News Today Mauritius Commercial Bank Launches $1 Billion Trade Finance Initiative Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB), one of the largest and most respected banks in Africa, announced on 1 June 2026 the launch of a $1 billion trade finance facility to be deployed over the next four years. The ambitious programme
Founder Friday: Hopscotch
For many young South Africans, finding a job after graduation can feel like an uphill battle. Employers say they cannot find the right candidates, while graduates complain that opportunities are scarce. After nearly a decade working at the intersection of youth employment and international work programmes, Hopscotch founder Cara Halliday believes the problem is not
South Africa’s 30-Year Spending Report Card: Trillions Deployed – Disappointing Returns
Over the past three decades, post-apartheid South Africa has spent vast sums of public tax money on infrastructure, education, healthcare, small business development, and policing. Successive governments have justified high levels of taxation and borrowing with promises of inclusive growth, job creation, and service delivery. Yet the outcomes tell a sobering story of capital misallocation,
Yoco acquires restaurant software start-up Dyner
Payments company Yoco has acquired local software start-up Dyner for an undisclosed amount, in what appears to be the company's first publicly announced acquisition Former Discovery actuaries Thalentha Ngobeni and Christopher du Plessis founded Dyner. The company develops software that helps restaurants and other small businesses manage stock, place supplier orders, track costs and oversee
The Mining Wrap
Several notable developments emerged across the mining sector this week, including advances in automation, critical minerals projects, equipment launches, and corporate dealmaking. The week's activity points to a sector increasingly focused on technology adoption, energy reliability, and securing future supplies of strategic minerals. TerraHaptix Expands Mining Drone Operations Nigerian robotics startup TerraHaptix is expanding its
African businesses are scaling beyond borders and logistics is helping power that growth
As more African businesses expand into regional and international markets, logistics is starting to play a much bigger role in making that growth possible. For many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), it’s what’s helping them move beyond local markets and start competing on a global stage. Across the continent, SMEs and entrepreneurs continue to sit
Breaking News Today – Friday 29 May 2026
African Start-up News Headlines: Business News Today Global Consultancy Alvarez & Marsal Opens Cape Town Office Consultancy firm Alvarez & Marsal founded in 1983 in New York by Tony Alvarez II and Bryan Marsal, and with 80 offices in 40+ countries, has launched its first African office in Cape Town. The firm is best known
South Africa’s Rate Hike Deepens Cost-of-Living Crisis as Continent’s Growth Stars Pull Ahead
The South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) delivered a widely expected but painful 25-basis-point increase in the repo rate yesterday (28 May), lifting it to 7.0% (prime lending rate now at 10.5%). In a country already grappling with record fuel prices, re-accelerating food inflation, and strained household budgets, the decision risks tipping more
South Africa’s Automotive Sector: Strong Domestic Rebound Masks Deeper Structural Challenges – NAAMSA Q1 2026 Analysis
The South African automotive industry delivered its strongest first-quarter performance in over a decade, yet the latest NAAMSA Quarterly Review of Business Conditions reveals a tale of two sectors: robust domestic demand colliding with weakening production and export volumes. Released on 27 May 2026, the report highlights both encouraging momentum and persistent vulnerabilities in one
South African Startup MyBitSecure Launches Smart Farming Platform
South African agritech startup MyBitSecure has officially launched full deployment of its MBS SmartFarm Platform following a successful three-month pilot programme conducted in Stellenbosch. The platform was developed to support emerging farmers, cooperatives, and smart agriculture initiatives by combining Internet of Things (IoT) technology with cybersecurity tools designed for agricultural operations. MyBitSecure first drew attention
MINI Paul Smith Edition – British Charm Meets Iconic Fun
MINI has a long tradition of producing special editions — dating back to the classic Mini era in the 1970s. These models typically combine unique styling, limited production numbers, and heritage touches to create collector appeal and stronger emotional connection. Iconic Past Special Editions (Classic & Early BMW Era) Recent & Current Special Editions (2025–2026)
Zambia's ZCCM-IH Sells 55% Controlling Stake in Ndola Lime to China’s Wonderful Group
Zambia’s state-backed mining investment company, ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH), has agreed to sell a 55% stake in Ndola Lime Company, now operating as Limestone Resources Limited, to China’s Wonderful Group of Companies in a deal focused on restarting and expanding operations at the struggling plant. The agreement is intended to support efforts to restore production
Volkswagen’s Polo GTI goes electric
The Volkswagen Polo GTI is entering the electric era.Volkswagen has revealed the ID. Polo GTI, an all-electric version of its long-running hot hatch that has been part of the GTI line-up since 1998. For years, the Polo GTI served as the more affordable alternative to the Golf GTI. It built a reputation around a simple
Sixty60 pulls further ahead as Pick n Pay online momentum slows
Pick n Pay’s online grocery business remained profitable during the 2026 financial year, although growth slowed as Checkers Sixty60 continued to extend its lead in the market. In results for the 52 weeks ended 1 March 2026, Pick n Pay reported online turnover growth of 32.7%. Its asap! platform, together with PnP Groceries and its
South Africa’s Hive Hydrogen Project Nears Green Ammonia Production
South Africa’s US$5.8 billion Hive Hydrogen project has progressed toward commercial production after selecting a US$1 billion green ammonia and electrolyser solution for its planned facility in the Coega Special Economic Zone. The project, located in Nelson Mandela Bay’s Coega Special Economic Zone, is drawing attention because developers believe it could produce some of the
Breaking News Today – Thursday 28 May 2026
African Start-up News Headlines: Business News Today Major Zimbabwean Gas Production Agreement Signed Australia's Invictus Energy, has signed a petroleum production sharing agreement (PPSA) with the Zimbabwean authorities yesterday. This is a key step in moving towards production at its Cabora Bassa gas project, company executives said. In 2023, Invictus declared large gas condensate discoveries at
No Free Lunch Podcast – Getting Your Business Over the Line
The ability to adapt, innovate, and stay human-centric has become a central business priority on an African continent filled with opportunities but also headwinds. South African entrepreneurs are proving that success isn’t just about numbers but about the human touch, strategic collaboration, and embracing change. In this latest edition of No Free Lunch I chatted
Operating Between Rules: Compliance Challenges in Fragmented African Markets
Africa represents a US$3.4 trillion market opportunity, but for businesses scaling across the continent, compliance can feel less like a checklist and more like navigating 54 separate countries without a map. Regulations differ across markets, evolve at different speeds and can create new requirements every time a company crosses a border. Each new market brings
Ghana Moves to Tighten Oversight of Gold Fields' Tarkwa Lease Renewal
Ghana has indicated that the renewal of Gold Fields' mining lease for the Tarkwa mine will not be automatic when it expires in 2027, introducing greater scrutiny of long-term mining concessions. The Tarkwa operation is one of Gold Fields' most important assets, producing approximately 427,000 ounces of gold in 2025, with an estimated value of